So many memories of my Dad...
My Dad taught me how to love life.
He always shared his appreciation of nature on many walks in Calgary parks, and on longer adventures outdoors on our family vacations. He always made sure we took time to appreciate each river, bird, insect, friend, and blade of grass.
With his passion for the stars, we would often spend late nights stargazing, identifying constellations, and driving out of the city to watch meteor showers together.
He always shared his love of music, telling us of when he played the clarinet and bringing out an old whistle and harmonica at times. The house was often filled with a mix of reggae, classic rock and the blues; at a volume that could be heard blocks away when walking home.
He really tried to share his love of sports. I grew up watching many of his baseball games outside, attending local games together, had me try sports as a kid ( he even coached my baseball team); and when I was awful at sports he was still my biggest cheerleader and supported me and my sister dancing instead.
As an adult when I tried rural farm life he had many stories to share about the family farm house he grew up on as a kid in the Ottawa Valley. Many fun stories of chickens and some great meal ideas. He very much shared his love of critters, one day he even showed up at my house with a box of ducklings that we raised in my bathroom ( we had a lot of laughs together with this!).
Just over a year and a half ago my Dad came out to Vancouver Island for about a week. I played tour guide; we shared great meals and conversations by the ocean, explored old growth forests, picked fresh fruit in the sun, and my favorite afternoon of ice cream and splashing in the waves at Qualicum Beach having a blast like we were all young children ( my partner Jake was with us this day too). It was amazing to share this infectious love for life and adventures together still.
My Dads recent experience with cancer moved very rapidly, but he was always himself until the end.
Although my Dad is no longer with us, the memories, lessons, gratitude and love will always remain.
-Emily Ritchie
